Performance directions Act 1

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Davoren: Or when sweet summer's ardent arms outspread
Sitting with his elbow on the table, twiddling his pencil, with his brow furrowed in thought
1 of 61
Seumas: Yus!
Rolls over from front to side
2 of 61
Seumas: The way these oul' ones bawl at a body
Muttering to himself in annoyance
3 of 61
Davoren: It's quite plain I'm not going to get much quietness in this house
Slams pencil down on table
4 of 61
Davoren: Give you a rap?
Raises eyebrows and gives a little laugh at Seumas's hypocrisy
5 of 61
Seumas: There's no fear of you thinking of anyone else when you're at your poetry
Speaks quietly, through gritted teeth, and then spits out the word "poetry" in contempt
6 of 61
"With a movement of annoyance, he takes them off and puts them the right way on"
Seumas gives a loud sigh
7 of 61
Seumas: I suppose Maguire has come and gone?
Looks at his watch and then back up at Davoren
8 of 61
Seumas: Did anyone ever see the like of the Irish people?
Snorts in derision
9 of 61
Seumas: Have everything packed and ready
High-pitched, nasal voice;mocking Maguire
10 of 61
Seumas: Oh Kathleen Ni Houlian, your way's a thorny way (1st time)
Sighs wistfully
11 of 61
Davoren: Ah me, alas, pain, pain ever, for ever!
Quietly, to himself
12 of 61
Davoren: He flung a few stones through stained glass windows
Interrupting Seumas as he thinks he knows what Seumas is going to say
13 of 61
Davoren: And you actually rejoice...
Raises eyebrows, speaks in a high-pitched voice to convey shock
14 of 61
Seumas: I rejoice in the vindication of the Church and Truth
Sanctimoniously, i.e. slowly and enunciating every word
15 of 61
Davoren: ...torture your body in this
Turns back to poetry
16 of 61
Seumas: Oh, I gave meself a great rub yesterday
Nods emphatically
17 of 61
Seumas: They're well worth sixpence each
Smiles proudly
18 of 61
Seumas: three, six, nine - damn it, there's only eleven in this one...
Becomes increasingly flustered, therefore speaks faster and faster, and begins to blush
19 of 61
Seumas: He's almost too lazy to wash himself
Scowling
20 of 61
Seumas: This is a nice nine o'clock!
Shouting at Maguire, Maguire trying to interrupt but Seumas is speaking too quicklyt
21 of 61
Seumas: He's almost too lazy to wash himself
Scowling
22 of 61
Seumas: This is a nice nine o'clock!
Shouting at Maguire, Maguire trying to interrupt but Seumas is speaking too quicklyt
23 of 61
Maguire: Business, business. I'm going out to catch butterflies.
Maguire waves Seumas away and pauses to think before saying "catch butterflies". He then goes to leave but Seumas catches his arm roughly.
24 of 61
Maguire: I'll leave this bag here till this evening.
Maguire pats the bag and smiles.
25 of 61
Seumas: Oh this is a hopeless country...
Throws his hands up in despair; speaks the line with increasing volume and speed
26 of 61
Seumas: make a joke about it!
Raises his eyebrows and gives a false smile in sarcasm
27 of 61
Seumas: Well I hope he'll have a happy day in Knocksedan
Drops down heavily onto the bed in exasperation
28 of 61
Landlord: You'll shut no door till you've heard what I've got to say
Standing in the doorway; speaks slowly and clearly to come across as calm and measured
29 of 61
Landlord: Maybe you thought I was going to ask you to come to tea
Gives a short, ironic laugh
30 of 61
Landlord: You don't like the idea of being asked to pay your just and lawful debts
Pushes his way back into the room, causing Seumas to stumble and drop the door
31 of 61
Landlord: I'm not going to take any lessons from you
Looks around the room at the mess, not at Seumas
32 of 61
Seumas: I want to have no more talk with you Mr Mulligan
Opens the door for Mulligan to leave
33 of 61
Seumas: I don't care a damn if it was marked down in green, white and yellow
After this line, Seumas coughs and gestures to the door, implying he wants Mulligan to leave
34 of 61
Landlord: It'd be fitter for you to be less funny an' stop trying to be billickin' honest and respectable people
Turns and faces Seumas directly, but makes no move to leave
35 of 61
Davoren: For goodness's sake, bring the man in...
Looks up from poetry and rolls eyes at Seumas's behaviour
36 of 61
Seumas: I'll write as often as I like, when I like and how I like
Straightens posture and widens stance in belligerence
37 of 61
Seumas: I'll go when I like etc.
Seumas growls the first time he says this. The Landlord then smiles sarcastically at Seumas before turning to go. Seumas then shouts "I'll go when I like", the Landlord speaks without turning around and Seumas crosses his arms in defiance.
38 of 61
Seumas: It's nothing when you're used to it
Rolls eyes and shakes head in mild annoyance
39 of 61
Davoren: Got the wind up about me!
Has been pacing (stage directions) - now he stops and turns to face Seumas
40 of 61
Seumas: Oh just shove them up on the mantelpiece
Without looking at Davoren, Seumas gestures in the vague direction of the fireplace
41 of 61
Seumas: I'll get me own back on that oul' Mulligan yet...
Growling to himself
42 of 61
Davoren: Oh, Donal Og O'Davoren, your way's a thorny way
Stage directions say "with self-pity", so he gives a heavy, melodramatic sigh
43 of 61
Minnie: Oh it's alright Mr Davoren, you'll do just as well
Speaks in a high-pitched, bright voice, with a broad smile
44 of 61
Minnie: D'ye not?
Raises the pitch of her voice and also raises eyebrows in mild surprise
45 of 61
Minnie: You've said it, Mr Davoren
Before this, she should pause slightly and frown in confusion as she "never heard of Orpheus", before continuing just as brightly as before
46 of 61
Minnie: Poor man, it killed him in the long run
Shakes head and smiles sadly at the ground
47 of 61
Minnie: A lovely poem on Ireland and the men o' 98
Smiles reverently and gazes slightly beyond Davoren
48 of 61
Davoren: Oh we;ve had enough of poems, Minnie, about '98 and of Ireland too.
Speaks in a low vocal pitch and slow tempo to sound grave.
49 of 61
Davoren: Those aren't Shields's, they're mine
Minnie steps back and blushes in embarrassment, and starts to stammer an apology
50 of 61
Minnie: Oh be the way you don't know
Laughs coyly - flirting
51 of 61
Davoren: Know? I'm sure I don't know
Speaks slowly, with brows furrowed in confusion
52 of 61
Minnie: It doesn't matter anyhow
Sighs and shrugs, then looks away
53 of 61
Davoren: Know her, know whom?
Exasperatedly shakes head and spreads hands
54 of 61
Minnie: Her whose hand was clasped in yours, an' yours was clasped in hers.
Slowly looks back towards Davoren
55 of 61
Davoren: ...to you, for instance
Slowly, hesitantly - unsure whether this is too far
56 of 61
Davoren: That may be, but all the poets aren't fond of girls
Shrugs indifferently
57 of 61
Davoren: You are a very charming little girl indeed
Moves closer to Minnie
58 of 61
Minnie: Then if I'm a charming little girl, you ought to be able to write a poem about me
Emphasises "charming little girl", then raises eyebrows and nudges Davoren playfully
59 of 61
Davoren: And so I will, so I will Minnie
Looks into Minnie's eyes earnestly
60 of 61
Minnie: Ah I knew you had one
Slides off table and turns away in disappointment
61 of 61

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Rolls over from front to side

Back

Seumas: Yus!

Card 3

Front

Muttering to himself in annoyance

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Slams pencil down on table

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Raises eyebrows and gives a little laugh at Seumas's hypocrisy

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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